Morning all. England have won the toss and will bowl first here at Lord's. It's a wee bit overcast in London and a no-brainer really from Alastair Cook. South Africa make one change to the side that were undone by Eoin Morgan's outstanding 73 at the Oval a few days ago. Ryan McLaren comes in for Morne Morkel, who is rested.

10.12am: We're about to get underway here as the players stride onto the hallowed grass. I hope they're more awake than I am – 10.15am start! Good lord it's too early! I wonder what Old Father Time would say about this.

Steve Finn is going to open the bowling from the Pavilion End. Two slips in place...

1st over: South Africa 6-0 (Smith 6, Amla 0) The second ball of the day is too full from Finn and Smith, as he has done all series, just pushes it through the leg side field and it runs away for four. The next ball brings a couple for Smith through the off side, a thick outside edge. 12th man is on with a couple of rags, there might be a bit of moisture out there. Michael Holding is aghast that England have not placed Ravi Bopara at square leg instead of extra cover. Think he was a point, to be fair. Finn knocks the bails off accidentally at the bowler's end with his last delivery.

Harry Tuttle emails:

"Morning James. Bopara and Dernbach the key bowlers today. There's no need to explain why, is there? I wonder if Dernbach will develop into a Test player. Great prospect for limited overs, obviously."

2nd over: South Africa 10-0 (Smith 6, Amla 4) Jimmy Anderson has the honour of the second over but his first ball is a sloppy loosener, Amla has a thwack but it doesn't come off the middle and easily fielded. Jimmy's immediately back on target though and gets one to nip away on the seam, Amla has a waft but misses it completely, encouraging for England. They actually managed to get him out at the Oval, can they get him early today? Er, in a word, no. Amla guides the final delivery through the covers with consummate ease. Four runs.

3rd over: South Africa 12-0 (Smith 7, Amla 4) Tredwell and Trott are the men in the slips, and the latter has to be alert as Smith flashes at a wide-ish ball from Finn, not making proper contact and scuffing it on the bounce. A quick single from the South Africa Test captain next up, he didn't look like he enjoyed that Smith but it's a good run after a forward defensive. Finn sends a short one down the leg side and that's a wide ball, even though it almost clipped off Amla's glove.

Gary Naylor: "Not sure that this is a day for Dernbach and Ravi's liquorice allsorts. I expect the ball(s) to swing all day and that we'll have two lots of 50 overs Test cricket. 240 might be a good score in these conditions."

4th over: South Africa 16-0 (Smith 11, Amla 4) Anderson's line is a bit too straight and Smith gets a couple off the leg side. He moves his feet so quickly and I can't for the life of me understand why England don't move an extra man over to leg. Next up it's a jaffa from Anderson! Just outside of off stump, a low skidder with real pace that Smith misses and Kieswetter claims. And Anderson has Smith squared up trying to play through leg side, hitting it through his legs and almost trickling onto the stumps.

John Starbuck: "James, Morning. It looks (1st over) as if Dernbach and Finn are on a converging course: Dernbach needs to get faster for his regular stuff so the mystery balls come as more of a surprise, while Finn is working on his own slower variations. Also up for discussion is which wicketkeeper will Broad want for the T20 series? Will it be someone who has a good record of taking catches off the skipper's bowling? Bairstow is already being mentioned, but I'd imagine he'll go on the next overseas tours as the spare keeper to start with."

5th over: South Africa 17-0 (Smith 11, Amla 5) Tredwell drops a dolly at second slip! Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! That was a chance to get Amla early and it wasn't a difficult catch, the South African edging a good length ball with decent pace outside his off stump. To be fair to Tredwell, it wasn't right in the bread basket, but England keep dropping Amla! Chance gone.

6th over: South Africa 20-0 (Smith 13, Amla 6) Amla pushes one through the off side but it's well fielded by Bopara, diving low to his left. Just a single then. Smith is moving so far across his crease it's untrue, and he slashes one down to third man that rushes to the rope, only to be suddenly stopped in its tracks by a sprawling Steve Finn! Wonderful athleticism from the big man.

Keith Flett: "The Beard Liberation Front: the informal network of beard wearers has welcomed news of new England captain Alistair Cook's beard at Lords today. It marks, a significant departure from the follicly challenged era of Andrew Strauss said BLF Organiser Keith Flett."

7th over: South Africa 25-0 (Smith 13, Amla 11) Finn has Amla in a spot of bother in his next over...playing and missing before getting one to cut back into the top of of Amla's pad, half-hearted appeals for lbw but it was too high. Finn bangs one in short and it's pulled away for four, great shot but a needless delivery. A bit sloppy that and Amla gets a single off the next ball.

Gavin Phillipson: "England really do need to stop dropping Amla - drop anyone but him! How many times in the series is it now - 5? Normally when you drop him he goes on to win the match for the Saffers - this time too?"

8th over: South Africa 27-0 (Smith 13, Amla 13) To be fair, there hasn't been too much swing out there this morning, just enough to keep the bowlers interested mind. Amla flicks one off his legs to third man, there is Finn again to prevent a boundary. It's another tight over from Anderson and he's bowled very well so far. England need a wicket soon you feel though.

9th over: South Africa 28-0 (Smith 14, Amla 13) Smith gets a thick edge off Finn, but it's wide of gully and safe, earning the South Africa Test captain a single. Amla plays and misses the next ball – he's had more than his fair share of fortune so far today, and Finn then gets one to jag back and rap off the bearded wonder's pads. Not out says the umpire but England review the decision. It did look a bit high and hit Amla on the knee roll, and lo and behold, it is comfortably over the stumps. England lose their review and that was a poor decision.

10th over: South Africa 32-0 (Smith 18, Amla 13) Change of bowler as Jade Dernbach replaces Anderson, the tattooed maestro steaming in and throwing in a few full deliveries outside off stump that Smith can't score off. A short and wide ball catches his inside edge and runs down for four – lucky for Smith as Dernbach persists with bowling way outside the line. Five balls of that over would have been given as wides had Smith left them! I know Dernbach is accommodating for Smith moving to the offside, but what happened to bowling at the stumps!

11th over: South Africa 34-0 (Smith 19, Amla 14) Ravi Bopara takes the 11th over for England. Third ball of the over is hit straight back at Ravinder, who plucks it out of the air before attempting a shy at the stumps. The bails are thrown asunder but Smith was well in his crease. Still, that shows Bopara has fire in his belly today. He gets one to jag back and that looked out! Hitting Amla just below the knee roll! Not out though says Richard Illingworth, but replays show it would have knocked over the leg stump. Bopara beats Smith's edge with a wicked last delivery, great end to the over!

12th over: South Africa 40-0 (Smith 20, Amla 18) Amla chips one over the leg-side infield, always landing safe though. Dernbach hurls in a slower one that Smith doesn't pick at all, giving England's bowler a wry smile in the aftermath. You get the feeling that something's got to give soon for South Africa, they're not scoring freely at the moment, Amla nudging the last ball of the over for a single on the leg side.

13th over: South Africa 45-0 (Smith 22, Amla 21) Cook doesn't have a slip in place for Bopara and Amla edges one down to third man. It's a few singles here and there for South Africa to keep the strike alternating but they need to up the run rate a wee bit. To be fair, there were five easy runs off that over. You could argue either way really.

14th over: South Africa 46-0 (Smith 22, Amla 22) The run-rate is 3.46 at the moment, but with wickets in hand, South Africa are in a reasonably strong position. Samit Patel comes into the attack and there's a little bit of turn out there for the left-armer. Amla's trying to play him down the ground but to no avail, before slashing one through the off-side for a single. And that's all South Africa get off that over, great start from Patel.

15th over: South Africa 48-0 (Smith 23, Amla 23) Bopara again causing Smith a few problems, skidding it low and beating his edge. Still no slip in place and Beefy ain't happy about that! Just two runs from that over and the run-rate is now 3.20. They're going to have to up the anti, and the two batsman have a conflab down in the middle.

16th over: South Africa 52-0 (Smith 25, Amla 25) So apparently if England had not let Amla off the hook with so many dropped catches this summer his runs tally would be more than 500 short of his current total! Try telling that to Tredwell. Another tight over from Patel and England are about to take the bowling powerplay.Simon McMahon: "Morning James. 48-0 after 15 overs. It's not exactly Joburg in March 2006, is it?"

That it ain't, Simon.

17th over: South Africa 57-0 (Smith 27, Amla 27) Finn comes back into the attack and he's coming round the wicket to Smith now, who fends a short one down the third man, with the despairing man at gully missing with his dive. OH NO! TREDWELL LETS ANOTHER DOWN! Smith edges one to slip and it's put down again, with Kieswetter perhaps distracting Tredwell with an attempted dive of his own. David Saker has his head in his hands on the balcony, and who can blame him. Catches win matches boys.

11.31am: We'll it's a drinks break and time for England to regroup. Time to take James Tredwell out of the slips? A penny for his thoughts right now.

18th over: South Africa 66-0 (Smith 28, Amla 35) Amla knocks a six over Dernbach's head! It's a fraction too full and Amla just guides it over the rope beautifully, he didn't even look like he tried to hit it hard, just glorious timing. Smith then slashes one away past point and Dernbach finishes the over with a slower ball, conceding another single.

19th over: South Africa 68-0 (Smith 29, Amla 36) Good over from Finn but more excellent running from these South African openers, with Amla just knocking one short and sprinting to the opposite crease. Amla then wafts at a wide and short effort, missing it completely. Two runs from the over.

Bernard Walsh: "James, the catch that Treadwell dropped off Finn wasn't his fault at all, Kieswetter dived right in front of Tredders, totally obstructed his view yet didn't get a glove on the ball, you wouldn't expect to see a howler like that by a club cricket third eleven 'keeper. Although Kieswetter takes the occasional stunning catch his glove work is generally shoddy and i'm not sure why England persist with him."

I do agree that Kieswetter put him off, but Tredwell still should have done better. It went straight through him. Thoughts everyone?

WICKET! South Africa 68-1 (Smith b Dernbach, c Kieswetter 29)

Poor shot from Smith but a good ball from Dernbach, banging it in short and straight. Well taken by Kieswetter high above his head. That's the breakthrough! Next in, Duminy.

20th over: South Africa 72-1 (Amla 36, Duminy 4) Duminy leaves his first two but then edges one wide of Tredwell and down to the boundary for four. So unlucky for Dernbach, who is bowling excellently, and that may have carried if England had a second slip in place. Fine over.

21st over: South Africa 80-1 (Amla 37, Duminy 10) Good piece of fielding from Patel at mid-wicket, who hurls one at the stumps after Amla had called a quick single off Finn. Duminy is well in his crease, though, despite the decision going to the third umpire. Duminy then fishes at a square drive, gets a thick outside edge, and it runs away for four, just evading Morgan at backward point. The left-hander then opens the face and hits it the other side of Morgan, along the ground this time, for a single.

22nd over: South Africa 87-1 (Amla 39, Duminy 15) Dernbach continues to run in at full tilt and Amla drives him through the covers, but Ian Bell is quickly across to save a boundary. Next up is a short one to Duminy, who ducks underneath it and doesn't fall into the same trap as Graeme Smith. Wonderful shot from JP, whose on-drive is straight down the ground and races to the rope.

23rd over: South Africa 90-1 (Amla 40, Duminy 16) Anderson takes the reins and brings some renewed pace into the attack. He gets one to jag back into Amla's midriff, with South Africa running a single. Duminy goes back to an open face with Anderson bowling round the wicket to the left hander.

Simon McMahon: "The first drop was unforgivable for two reasons. 1 - it was 'regulation' and 2 - it was Amla. The second was understandable because the keeper went for it, diving across and putting Treadwell off. He shouldn't be too hard on himself though. England's catching has been poor all summer, he obviously doesn't want to feel left out."

24th over: South Africa 98-1 (Amla 45, Duminy 17) James Tredwell comes into the attack. Let's hope he can put those dropped catches out of his mind and focus on his bowling. Duminy paddles one down to fine leg and the next delivery beats both Amla and Kieswetter all ends up, one into the extras column. Last ball of the over...and it's swept to the square leg boundary by Amla, wonderful shot, reaching well outside the off stump.

WICKET! South Africa 100-2 (Amla b Bopara 45)

Delightful inswinger from Bopara, full length and beating Amla all ends up, hitting middle and leg. Who would have thunk it?! That's a key wicket for England.

25th over: South Africa 105-2 (Duminy 18, De Villiers 4) Bopara from the Pavilion End and that's a great over from him. The dismissal of Amla is obviously key, and he nearly takes the immediate scalp of AB De Villiers, who drags one inches past his stumps, running away to the backward square leg boundary for three, Dernbach diving to save the boundary.

WICKET! South Africa 106-3 (Duminy b Tredwell, st Kieswetter 18)

Now we're talking! Tredwell, redeeming himself for his butter fingers, drifts a lovely off-spinner that drags Duminy out of his crease, nipping away from the batsman and giving Kieswetter ample time to nick the bails away.

26th over: South Africa 106-3 (De Villiers 5, Du Plessis 0) Excellent over from James Tredwell and that will have done him the world of good after those earlier dropped catches. Faf Du Plessis is next in.

27th over: South Africa 112-3 (De Villiers 11, Du Plessis 0) De Villiers with a textbook drive down the ground for four off Bopara, but next up he's in a spot of bother as Bopara throws down an inswinger that clatters off his pads, always going down leg though. Six from the over and England are in a stronger position now. 270 the par score in the last five ODI's at Lord's, but this pitch looks a bit more favourable to the bowlers.

Gary Naylor: "Another 240 par pitch being misread by batting sides too keen to get on with it. As with most things in cricket, I blame the IPL."

28th over: South Africa 114-3 (De Villiers 12, Du Plessis 1) Tredwell is getting a lot of spin out there and there's just two from the over. A few more quick wickets and this would begin to slip away from South Africa, but there is still a lot of batting left in this side. You can see the confidence oozing from Tredwell now, what a change from earlier, when he wanted a gaping hole in the ground to gobble him up.

WICKET! South Africa 115-4 (Du Plessis b Bopara, 1)

29th over: South Africa 115-4 (De Villiers 13, Elgar 0) This is a great spell from Bopara. He's really got the bit between his teeth and two wickets to his name now. Three wickets from 15 runs for South Africa and I'd be a bit worried if I was De Villiers. It was an awful shot from Du Plessis, a man who is horribly out of nick, attempting to guide the ball down to third man but playing on instead. Next in is David Elgar.

30th over: South Africa 118-4 (De Villiers 15, Elgar 1) Great ball from Tredwell! The off-spinner drifts one in to Elgar and it spins back viciously into Kiewsetter's gloves. Elgar gets off the mark, though, cutting a short one through the off side for a single. 20 overs remaining in this innings, South Africa need to consider their tactics now. Attack, or focus on seeing out the overs?

31st over: South Africa 122-4 (De Villiers 17, Elgar 3) Bopara to continue his excellent spell but still Alastair Cook doesn't put a slip in place. Surprising, says Nasser Hussain, when you consider his figures during this game so far. Another tight over from Ravi, four off it, and England are beginning to turn the screw. 7 overs, 2-26 for Bopara.

32nd over: South Africa 126-4 (De Villiers 18, Elgar 6) Elgar cuts Tredwell behind square for two, it's crucial that he tries to form a solid partnership with De Villiers now. De Villiers then knocks one through mid-wicket to keep him on strike. When are South Africa going to start hitting big?

33rd over: South Africa 128-4 (De Villiers 19, Elgar 6) Bopara is bowling some first class stuff out there. His length is pretty full and his tight line is not allowing the new man in Elgar any easy runs. At this rate South Africa will do well to reach 220-230, which may not be enough on this pitch. Drinks break now for the players and a chance for both teams to consider their approaches for the remaining 16 overs. Anyone think South Africa can still post a good score?

34th over: South Africa 130-4 (De Villiers 20, Elgar 8) Elgar dinks one over his shoulder off Patel for one, and Cook has brought a slip up in for Patel. Vicious turn from Patel from outside Elgar's off stump, bringing it back into the left-hander. Only two runs off the over and De Villiers needs to up the ante.

35th over: South Africa 136-4 (De Villiers 23, Elgar 11) England now seem to be happy with allowing South Africa long singles to the outfield. Alastair Cook, fielding at mid-on, doesn't even attempt a shy at the stumps as Elgar scampers across for one. The batsman was always favourite to make that, but that epitomises England's approach right now. Six from the over, but no boundaries. Mandatory batting powerplay for South Africa.

36th over: South Africa 141-4 (De Villiers 25, Elgar 14) South Africa's run-rate is still under four an over as Patel trots in once again. The responsibility is truly with De Villiers right now, he's playing solidly outside the off stump but with Elgar at the other end, not exactly scoring freely, he may feel like cutting loose soon. Having said that, these two need to stay in and form a partnership.

37th over: South Africa 145-4 (De Villiers 25, Elgar 16) Finn strides in again and Elgar plays inside the line of the first delivery. Next up and it's an away swinger, but it just moves too much and that's given as a wide. Finn is cramping Elgar up in his crease here, banging them in short and straight at an awkward height. One jumps up at he batsman who has to fend it off right underneath his nose, well done. But Finn again concedes a wide as one slides down the leg side, great take from Kiewswetter though. Finn attempts a yorker but Elgar flicks it off his pads down to fine leg, Anderson fields, but looked to have pulled a muscle perhaps, he's moving a bit gingerly.

38th over: South Africa 148-4 (De Villiers 26, Elgar 18) Patel is getting a lot of turn out there and it's another good over from him, just three off it. The run-rate is 3.89 with 12 overs remaining. At the moment South Africa are on for about 210-20, but you expect them to start swinging soon.

39th over: South Africa 151-4 (De Villiers 29, Elgar 18) Finn powers in and bangs a short one down, cracking the South African captain on the lower arm. That will hurt for sure, but De Villiers just gets on with it. Astonishing cricket...Finn sends a short and wide one down the off side, but AB demonstrates wonderful footwork to trot across the line and guide it back to leg. He's jumping across his stumps like a cat on a hot tin roof, but doing well at the moment. Three from the over, Finn will take that.

40th over: South Africa 160-4 (De Villiers 34, Elgar 22) Elgar drags one to the wide long-on boundary off Patel but it still doesn't reach the rope, as Anderson jogs across to field. He still doesn't look altogether comfortable out there Jimmy. De Villiers edges one down to third man, it beats Kieswetter and Trott gallops down, diving well to save the four. Elgar attempts an ambitious thwack to cow corner but doesn't quite get hold of it. Still, nine off that over.

WICKET! South Africa 166-5 (De Villiers b Tredwell, st Kieswetter 39)

41st over: South Africa 166-5 (Elgar 23, Parnell 0) That's a crucial wicket for England and nice work with the gloves from Kieswetter. Tredwell tempted De Villiers out of his crease for a booming cover drive, but he misses it completely and, after a review, is stumped. Parnell is the next man in.

42nd over: South Africa 170-5 (Elgar 25, Parnell 2) South Africa's run-rate has just crept above 4, and their projected total is still looking a wee bit light. Samit Patel again keeping it reasonably tight in that over, as Wayne Parnell gets off the mark with a couple of singles. Jade Dernbach next into the attack...

43rd over: South Africa 174-5 (Elgar 25, Parnell 5) Now Dernbach should be in his element, with South Africa chasing the runs, his variation could be deadly, and Alastair Cook has stuck two slips in. Mix up in the field between Bell and Trott. The Warwickshire team-mates get in a real muddle out in the field, Trott attempting a dummy slide that Bell misinterprets for the real thing. Absolute village, that. Dernbach sends one wide but then bangs one in short – Parnell attempts the pull but doesn't catch it cleanly. A slower delivery at 68.2mph next up, and Parnell can't pick it.

WICKET! South Africa 174-6 (Parnell b Tredwell, st Kieswetter 5)

Another beautiful piece of deceptive bowling from Tredwell. He really has shaken off that earlier disappointment in the slips. The left-hander Parnell is tempted out of his crease and attempts the off-drive, missing the ball as it spins away then and hearing the fatal sound of glove on bail.

44th over: South Africa 176-6 (Elgar 26, Peterson 1) Peterson, another left-hander, to face Tredwell now. A complete mix up between the wickets! Peterson plays a forward defensive, begins to run before getting halfway and being sent back by Elgar. It looked like suicide as Kieswetter raced out to pick up the ball, but his throw back to the stumps was poor and Jimmy Anderson couldn't quite reach it low down. Peterson lives to fight another day, but that was terrible cricket all round!

45th over: South Africa 178-6 (Elgar 28, Peterson 1) Dernbach is causing Elgar all sorts of trouble. The South African can barely get the ball off the square. Just as I say that he drives one through the off side and Ian Bell has to scamper across the point boundary to save the four. Half-hearted appeals for lbw as the ball hits Elgar on the knee-roll, but always too high that. Two from the over.

46th over: South Africa 189-6 (Elgar 28, Peterson 12) A four! A four I say! Peterson reverse sweeps Tredwell down to the third man boundary and brings up a much needed boundary. A six! A six I say! Next up Peterson launches one over the ropes through mid-wicket! This is more like it from South Africa, as Peterson switches hands again and chips one over his leg side, it's in the air...but just short of Bell! Expensive over.

47th over: South Africa 198-6 (Elgar 34, Peterson 15) England know Elgar and Peterson are trying to hit big, so they counter their attacking with solid line and length. Alastair Cook takes the slip out and it's more of a defensive field now for England. He can't prevent a four from the next delivery, though, as Edgar lifts one to the long-on boundary. Slower, fuller ball to finish and South Africa take a quick single. Three overs remaining.

48th over: South Africa 209-6 (Elgar 35, Peterson 25) Dernbach is beginning to concede a few runs as Elgar and Peterson both find the boundary. Nine from the first three deliveries, but just one from the next two, that's a bit better from England's point of view. And it's just a single from the final ball of the over.

48.5 overs: South Africa 214-6 (Elgar 35, Peterson 29) Finn from the Pavilion End now and Peterson flashes his blade at a short ball, that runs quickly all the way down to the third-man boundary. He's played a crucial role at the end of this innings and this is getting away from England a wee bit at the death. Peterson takes a single as the ball thumps his pads, and Elgar can't score off the next ball.

WICKET! South Africa 214-7 (Edgar b Finn, c Kieswetter 35)

Edgar gloves a short one behind to Kieswetter, and to be honest, he hasn't really looked settled all innings.

WICKET! South Africa 215-8 (McLaren, run out, Dernbach, 1)

Finally a bit of joy for England in the field! McLaren hit one onto his pads with his first ball, ran the single, but then unselfishly tried to get back for the second, only for Dernbach to produce a direct hit!

50 overs: South Africa 220-8 (Peterson 31, Steyn 3) So a tight final over from Dernbach means South Africa finish with a score of 220. Steyn misses a slower ball and almost attempts a ludicrous single, only to think better of it. He does get two off the last delivery, though, with Kieswetter missing a run-out opportunity.

South Africa: 220-8 after 50 overs. Changeover.

Let's have a few views on that first innings please. Email me in your droves.

James Debens: "I was just wondering why Bairstow isn't playing? For all his bowling success, I don't have a lot of faith in Ravibop's batting."

Indeed, his batting isn't the best, but did that earlier spell with the ball justify his selection?

John Starbuck: "James, It looks like England know what they're doing with this SA batting line-up, who might have expected to get 250 at least. Again. Some luck, good and bad, and they need to work harder on catching drills using different combinations, but you'd say England have the upper hand. Let's see if the batsmen can do the right thing, too."

The teams are out for the second innings. 221 to win for England and Steyn to open the bowling...

0.5 overs: England 2-0 (Cook 2, Bell 0) Cook gets England off the mark with a cut that flies wide of point, and he comes back for two. Remember that Morkel isn't in this South Africa side, surely that's to the detriment of South Africa. Cook leaves one just outside the line of off stump, corr blimey, that was close to his off peg though! Only a few centimetres in it I reckon! Great judgement, or extremely lucky?

WICKET! England 2-1 (Cook lbw b Steyn, 2)

Oh dear oh dear. Steyn gets one to nip back in and that's plumb, going on to hit Cook's off stump, no review needed. Terrible start for England!

2nd over: England 5-1 (Bell 0, Trott 0) Tsotsobe takes the next over and England are already on the ropes. However, he doesn't put the home side under any real pressure, a few looseners and byes conceded. Bell is beaten by one, the ball flying across the right-hander, before trying to chop one through point, but thwarted by the fielder.

Bernard Walsh: "James, am I the only one who thinks that England's bowling attack since they left Bresnan out of the team looks 30% more effective? With Finn's pace and bounce, Anderson's swing, Dernbach's slower ball medley, Bopara's swinging dobbers and decent spin from Patel and Treadwell there's no obvious weak link. As a club player myself I'm not overly keen on facing any of these types of bowling but usually fill my boots against the straight up and down medium fast bowlers like Bresnan who come on to the bat at a nice speed without offering intimidating pace or swing. Bresnan has done OK against other teams but the South Africans have feasted on his bowling in all formats and I suspect the Indians will relish facing this type of bowling in home conditions. 220 looks about 30 below par to me and I expect England to win, hopefully they won't grind their way there but we'll enjoy some entertaining strokeplay from Morgan."

3rd over: England 10-1 (Bell 0, Trott 4) Steyn is a formidable bowler. He's sending bombs down at 90mph plus and at the moment England are struggling to get to grips with him. He beats Trott's outside edge before a short one forces him to duck out of the way. What would have been the final delivery of the over slips down the leg side, though, for a wide. Trott punishes him with a cover drive that runs up the hill for four, the ball flying off the bat there!

4th over: England 15-1 (Bell 1, Trott 5) Tsotsobe looked to be keeping it tight in his second over, but then he sends a wild ball down that is wide, even on the off side. Bell dabs one out to point and gets off the mark before Trott cuts one to wide third man.

Gary Naylor: "SA suffered a bit from not knowing whether to go for 280 or 240. Every time they tried to get the scoring rate up, they lost a wicket until Peterson's shenanigans at the end. Had they gone for 240, they might have got it and, in these conditions, that's a good score. 220 is at least ten short and England know they can afford to rebuild their innings a couple of times at least."

5th over: England 17-1 (Bell 2, Trott 6) Steyn's pace has just dropped a tad. But when I say dropped, he is still wanging them down at around 88mph. I wouldn't want to be facing him, that's for sure. Trott attempts a pull to an aggressive short ball but it comes on to him too quickly and doesn't even get off the square, falling short of mid-off! That could have gone anywhere.

6th over: England 21-1 (Bell 5, Trott 7) McLaren comes into the attack for South Africa, replacing Tsotsobe. Bell skips down the pitch and pulls one well through the leg side, it won't go for four, but that's a good two. McLaren then beats his edge with the next delivery, an instant response from the bowler.

Simon McMahon: "Consensus seems to be SA are a few runs short, James, but their bowlers could have enough to keep it interesting. Might be a close finish. Or might not. Howzaaaaaaaat for penetrating analysis?"

Not out

7th over: England 22-1 (Bell 5, Trott 8) An 88mph leg break from Steyn, beating Trott comprehensively! Trott does a bit of gardening with the pitch but he needs to forget about that quickly, and he leaves the next two outside off stump. He then strangely plays outside one that cut back a wee bit down the hill. Steyn is flying at the moment, he's almost unplayable! A short one is fired down and Trott gets a glove on it and sprints to the non-striker's end as quickly as he can!

Jonathan Trott is in a bit of pain after that blow on the hand from Steyn, and he's receiving a bit of treatment.

8th over: England 31-1 (Bell 7, Trott 13) Trott dusts himself down and gets back into the zone after that knock. He looks to be OK and he clips McLaren off his legs, through mid-wicket for four. He is still struggling with his hand, however, as McLaren gives away two wides in succession, one on the off side and another down leg. Bell then fends a short one off his hips for a couple and this is looking like an expensive over all of a sudden.

9th over: England 37-1 (Bell 7, Trott 17) Trott gobbles down a couple of pain killers and will be hoping they take effect pretty sharpish. Tsotsobe comes back into the attack and beats Trott's outside edge a few times. I think Trott is really struggling out there and isn't concentrating on the ball 100%. Understandable if you're hand is swelling and you're trying to face a quicky. But he regains his composure and guides the ball to the boundary, square on the off side, lovely shot. Tsotsobe sends a wide down, even though it was very close to Trott's leg stump.

10th over: England 42-1 (Bell 11, Trott 18) Trott guides McLaren's short delivery down to third man for a single, handing Bell the strike. And just as I was about to wonder if Bell was struggling to get his eye in, he expertly pulls a tame short ball through the leg side for four. Excellent shot.

Adam Czarnowski: "James. As Mikey Holding just said of the Proteas, we've also weakened our team with some "bits and pieces" cricketers, Little Bo Para and the dreary, uninspiring Patel, to name but two. This and the depressing dropped catches made me think of Bob Willis priceless "England have clambered back into the treacle-tin of their own mediocrity." Come back KP, all is forgiven?"

11th over: England 45-1 (Bell 12, Trott 20) Bell is using his feet really well and moving down the wicket wherever possible. He swipes one from Tsotsobe to the mid-wicket boundary before clipping a shot off his legs to the same man in the outfield. He's beginning to see the ball pretty big now I reckon.

12th over: England 47-1 (Bell 13, Trott 21) Elgar, the left-arm spinner, is now brought into the South African attack. It's a strong start from him and just two off the over.

Scott Poynting: "Re 9th over, isn't Trott taking painkillers under the circumstances using a performance enhancing drug? Perhaps he should have taken a leaf from Shane Warne's book and got them from his mum!"

I suppose they are helping his performance, aye! But I'm sure we can let him off this one.

13th over: England 48-1 (Bell 13, Trott 21) Trott is really struggling out there, he takes off his glove and is massaging his finger to relieve the pain. Tsotsobe bangs a short one in and Trott ducks out of the way. You do wonder if he is going to retire hurt, get some ice on it and come out again later in the innings if required. Even anodyne deliveries are causing him problems.

14th over: England 55-1 (Bell 16, Trott 23) Elgar strolls up to the crease again and Bell attempts a tickle down the leg side, Smith and De Villiers move to early and expect him to make the shot, but the ball beats everyone and runs down to the boundary, where Tsotsobe prevents it crossing the rope. The 50 partnership is brought up and that's a fine effort from these two after Cook's early dismissal.

15th over: England 58-1 (Bell 19, Trott 23) Parnell steaming in and Bell can't score off the first three balls of the over. A shorter one next up though and Bell pulls it behind square, it's in the air, but safe and a good shot. I'm sure Trott will be grateful that he didn't have to face a ball in that over and Bell runs a single on the last, some more respite for his hand injury.

16th over: England 61-1 (Bell 21, Trott 24) Peterson comes in for an over and brings the run-rate down a tad with some slow and tight bowling, drifting the ball into the right-handers. Soft hands from Bell, nudging the ball past slip for a single.

Two cracking lines from Adam Czarnowski:

"James, Elgar, the SA spinner, has some interesting variations, though no Enigmas thus far."

"Trott needs Anadin deliveries, not anodyne ones, surely?"

Wonderful Adam, just wonderful.

Drinks break

17th over: England 71-1 (Bell 29, Trott 24) Two quick fours from Bell and he's cantering along nicely now. First he cuts one fine down to the third man boundary before smashing an exquisite drive through the covers. That raced to the rope. He is a wonderful player, Bell, once he gets into the groove. And he seems to have rattled Parnell, who steps over the line for a no ball, and again with his next delivery! Oh dear.

Scathing reply from Josh Robinson: "Afternoon Riach, afternoon everybody. Impressive as Adam Czarnowski's line was, the Elgar-Enigma Variations comment would be more impressive if it wasn't it self a variation on something that David Gower used it on Sky a few games ago. Before that it had already been used on Test Match Sofa, probably on the other TMS as well. I imagine it was also sent to the OBO, but I don't know if Smyth was ever so desperate as to publish it."

18th over: England 73-1 (Bell 30, Trott 25) Poor communication between Trott and Bell but they get away with it, scampering for a quick single with De Villiers knocking the bails off in frustration rather than hope. Two from Peterson's over and he's having a good little spell.

19th over: England 80-1 (Bell 35, Trott 26) It's looking very comfortable for England at the moment. Parnell needs a strong over but Bell again advances down the pitch and slashes one over the covers for four. A single off the next delivery, good running from the batsmen after Steyn had slightly misfielded at mid-off.

Phil Russell: "I think all this complaining about weak Elgar puns is a bit pompous, given the circumstances..."

Oh yes

20th over: England 88-1 (Bell 42, Trott 27) Peterson again with his left-arm spin now, it's steady stuff but all of the sudden Bell skips down, opens the face of the bat and drives one through the off side for six, hitting the boundary line on the full! Wonderful shot!

Right that's all from me folks, Simon Burnton takes up the mantle and will guide you through to the close.

21st over: England 90-1 (Bell 42, Trott 28) Hello everyone. I might as well lay my cards on the table: I got back from a fortnight in the south of France yesterday, had thought about little other than the Olympics for a couple of months before that, and have spent most of this afternoon watching football. Anyway, just two runs off that McLaren over, one of them a wide.

22nd over: England 95-1 (Bell 42, Trott 32) Five from Peterson's over, and England are proceeding serenely towards their target, with Cook's early dismissal an ever more distant and irrelevant memory. Of course, it could all change...

23rd over: England 102-1 (Bell 44, Trott 37) Two poor deliveries in McLaren's first six – one a bouncer that flies a yard and a half over Trott's head for a wide, and the other a loose ball that Bell thunders it away for ... a single, straight to Amla. The seventh delivery is scooped away, in the air but perfectly safe, for four by Trott.

24th over: England 102-1 (Bell 44, Trott 37) A maiden over, played with very little aggression by an utterly relaxed Bell. Southampton celebrate by going 1-0 up against Manchester United, provoking a loud exclamation of "GOAL!" around Guardian HQ.

25th over: England 109-1 (Bell 49, Trott 39) Steyn returns, and with his second ball he finds Bell's edge. It flies through the massive gap between De Villiers and first slip, neither of whom moves, and away for four.

26th over: England 110-1 (Bell 49, Trott 40) That's one run from the last two Pieterson overs, in which Bell has faced 11 balls without scoring.

27th over: England 114-1 (Bell 51, Trott 41) Bell dabs the ball to third man to bring up his half-century, and mistimes a pull for a last-ball single.

28th over: England 118-1 (Bell 55, Trott 42) Parnell, the most expensive of South Africa's bowlers so far, attempts a fourth over. Just four runs off the over. "One reason for Bell doing well in the shorter game is that, after being dropped for the West Indies performances, when he came back into the side we could see he'd obviously done a lot of gym work," writes John Starbuck. "His shoulders and arms were massive compared with his earlier physique, so he could wield the now-requisite heavy bat so much better. The streaky shots converted into fours from light touches make a huge difference."

29th over: England 127-1 (Bell 63, Trott 43) Tsotsobe, the least expensive of South Africa's bowlers so far, follows him and concedes nine. Bell impresses with a hefty four sent back over the bowler's head, but flirts with a run-out by attempting a risky two – a decent throw would have left him a yard and a half short of the crease. The throw is rubbish.

30th over: England 132-1 (Bell 65, Trott 46) Elgar, now South Africa's most economical bowler after Tsotsobe's ugly previous over, has a go. Five singles are the result.

31st over: England 141-1 (Bell 73, Trott 47) Bell is dropped! He tries to drive the ball over mid on, but doesn't get enough on it. Peterson seems to misjudge the flight of the ball, realising too late quite how high it is, and though his hands shoot upwards he never looks like holding it, and indeed doesn't. The next ball, with an air of inevitability, is violently dispatched over midwicket for four. The last is an attempted six hit back down the ground that falls six yards short, but without a fielder within shouting distance.

WICKET! England 143-2 (Trott lbw b Elgar, 48) South Africa finally make a breakthrough, thanks to a review – Trott, given not out initially, is actually plumb. Given the way the match is going, and the fact that he's nursing an injured hand, it's no disaster.

32nd over: England 143-2 (Bell 74, Bopara 0) So the question was, how long can Trott bat through injury. And the question now is, can Bopara rediscover some form?

33rd over: England 148-2 (Bell 79, Bopara 0) Tsotsobe's third ball is dirt poor, all but demanding that Bell taps it down to long leg for four, which he does. A single off the following delivery leaves Bopara with two deliveries to face. The first he only just manages to pull away from in time, after initially being tempted into a half-hearted prod. The second he defends reasonably well.

34th over: England 150-2 (Bell 80, Bopara 1) Elgar continues, and the batsmen take a run each. I've been tortured all afternoon by the knowledge that, just yards from the office where I am toiling, there is an ice cream festival taking place. An ice cream festival. A festival of ice cream. In just 55 minutes it will close, and my torture will be over.

Rain delay If it doesn't stop raining – and the forecast is that it will, quite soon – England will win on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

It's stopped raining! And the players are making their way back out.

35th over: England 155-2 (Bell 80, Bopara 6) Some more poor fielding, from Tsotsobe, allows Bopara's pull to bounce away for four. We're told that Trott will have an X-ray on his hand, though not until tomorrow.

WICKET! England 156-3 (Bopara c De Villiers b McLaren, 6) Nope, Bopara's run of poor form is not over. He brushes a ball he could have left straight through to the keeper, and now some nerves could surface for England. Enter Morgan.

36th over: England 157-3 (Bell 80, Morgan 0) Another wicket soonish and this could be interesting. They haven't given up – McLaren's first ball to Morgan is played in short and only just evades the bat on its way through to the keeper.

37th over: England 159-3 (Bell 81, Morgan 2) Steyn's eighth over, and England get a couple of singles off it. The last ball skids over Morgan's head as he takes a wild swing at it. We could have a fun few overs ahead, if that's going to be his attitude.

38th over: England 167-3 (Bell 82, Morgan 9) Morgan's first boundary is a classy straight drive that disappears off his bat, and McLaren's next delivery pootles through mid off for three. He looks in good touch.

39th over: England 170-3 (Bell 82, Morgan 12) Injury update: Trott, pictured on the balcony, isn't too injured to hold a cup of tea. Three runs from Parnell's over, all of them scored by Morgan.

40th over: England 173-3 (Bell 83, Morgan 13) Three runs off the over, one of them a wide, and England's target is now less than 50 runs away. This is an ODI disguised as a Test. The run rate is low, and doesn't have to get higher. The excitement rate is low, and mightn't get much higher either. England still seem in control, and only the dismissal of Bell sometime soon can change that.

41st over: England 176-3 (Bell 85, Morgan 13) Parnell bowls a full toss, and Bell swings and misses, blinking his eyes to suggest that he didn't see the ball at all. Fortunately it flies six inches wide of the off stump, and Bell recovers to score three off the remaining balls.

42nd over: England 182-3 (Bell 87, Morgan 18) The highlight of Peterson's over is Morgan's brilliantly controlled pull for four. Six runs come from the over in all; the required run rate is 4.875.

43rd over: England 186-3 (Bell 88, Morgan 21) This is as comfortable as an old pair of slippers or a brand new baby snow goose down duvet. It's as relaxed as a Usain Bolt v obese British under-sixes 200m sprint. Can anything change the direction of this match now? England need 35 to win.

44th over: England 189-4 (Morgan 24, Kieswetter 1) Steyn makes the breakthrough that South Africa had been so desperate for, but with six overs and 32 runs to go, is it too late? As Simon McMahon boasts: "My prediction earlier that we might, or might not, see a close finish is beginning to look rather prescient, no? Call me mad, but I'm standing by it. That's how I roll." Go on, stick your neck out.

45th over: England 195-4 (Morgan 24, Kieswetter 5). England need 26 to win off 30 balls A brilliantly-timed drive from Kieswetter brings a boundary from the first ball of the over, and only an excellent diving stop from Amla stops Morgan emulating him two balls later. Kieswetter ends the over considerably less impressively than he started it, though, with a swing and a miss.

46th over: England 207-4 (Morgan 36, Kieswetter 5). England need 14 to win off 24 balls Instead of sticking with Steyn and searching for wickets, South Africa go with McLaren and his second ball is slow but read by Morgan and tickled away for four. He relaxes for a couple of balls and then hoicks the next over long on for a one-bounce four, and swings at the last, with even a poor contact being enough to send the ball to the boundary. Twelve runs off the over, all of them boundaries, and this match is surely over.

ENGLAND WIN BY SIX WICKETS! 46.4 overs: England 224-4 (Morgan 36, Kieswetter 21) Now South Africa do turn to Steyn, and it doesn't go well at all. Not at all. Kieswetter thumps his first delivery through mid wicket for four. The next is called wide, and after that Kieswetter takes a couple of steps and flukily top-edges the ball for another four. That leaves England needing three, and the next ball is thumped mightily back over the bowler's head and away for six to win it.

England will end 2012 as the world's No1 ODI team! After that they go to India, so they should probably enjoy it while it lasts. The fielding wasn't great, but every batsman but the unlucky Cook, who got a good ball early, and Bopara, who is out of touch and looked it, impressed.